Pbocess of cleaning sugab-making appabatus



iii)

EDWARD HOBBOCKS MAN, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

PROCESS OF CLEANING SUGAR MAKING APPARATUS.

No Drawing.

pound hereinafter described, and in the steps employed in using the compound.

The cleaning of sugar making apparatus of the type mentioned is a source of considerable expense, especially at the present time, due to the fact that the ordinary chemicals used in the cleaningprocess have advanced considerably in price. Furthermore, the ordinary process of cleaning these devices necessitates the use of steam or boiling water which in itself is no small source of expense.

An object of my invention is to provide a process employing a comparatively cheap cleaning agent which is more effective than.

such cleaning agents as caustic soda or muriatic acid, and which can be had at a fraction of the expense of the last-named cleaning agents.

A further object of my invention is to provide a process by means of which the various sugar making devices may be cleaned with a minimum amount of labor and a minimum expense.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cleaning agent which does not necessarily depend for its efiectiveness on being of any particular strength, which does.

not require the water with which it is used to be of any particular temperature, and which does not require the services of a skilled laborer, but which on the other hand, may be effectively used by any one.

lhe composition of matter or compound which forms the main cleaning agent is a water solution of. sulfur-dioxid gas. This may be made by passing sulfur-dioxid gas into water until the latter takes up a sufficient quantity of the gas to form an effective cleaning agent. llhe production of the sulfur-dioxid gas forms no part of the present invention. It maybe produced in one of many ways. For-the purposes of-this Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3(1 1919..

Application filed November 23, 1917. Serial No. 203,606.

invention itis preferably produced by burning raw sulfur or roasting a sulfur bearing material such'as iron pyrites, in a sulfur burning stove or other suitable device.

The gas, after being generated, is passed into water, and this may be done by any suitable apparatus, such apparatus forming no part of the present invention. It may be done by an'ordinary air compressor of any suitable type. I have found that the temperature of the water need not be high, in fact, cold water may be used efiectively. Neither does the water have to be saturated with the gas. Of course, the Water which has gas in it up to the saturation point, will act in a little quicker. time, but it is not nec essary for the purposes of this invention, that any specified degree of solution be maintained.

The sulfur dioxid solution is run into the vessel to be cleaned,- such as an evaporator, for instance, and is leftto stand a few hours. I prefer to let the sulfureted water stand in the vessel over night. In the morning it will be found that the scale which accumulates and which adheres to the walls of the vessel, will have so softened that it may be easily removed by scraping or flushing, or in any other suitable way.

In practice, I prefer to inject the gas into the water as it is passed from the mills to the defecators. I have found in practice that any excess of s-ulfur-dioxid will escape from the defecators, so that when the solution is subsequently run to the evaporators, vacuum pans, etc., the absence of free sulfurdioxid permits the use of the solution without having an injurious effect on the vessel. It will'be noted that in this process of cleaning sugar making apparatus, I dispense with the usual custom of using hot water or steam. l have found that the sulfur-dioxid solution will bring the scale into a softer condition, in which it can be more readily removed than if caustic soda or muriatic acid were used. I

llhe sulfur-dioxid may be economically produced, as stated. In a sugar'factory having-a daily capacity or output of 500 tons of sugar, I have found that eight (8) pounds of raw sulfur is suificient to produce enough sulfur-dioxid for efiectively cleaning all of the apparatus, of the scale which clings to the walls.

I claim:

1. The herein described process of cleanf ing sugar making apparatus, which consists ing sugar making vessels, which consists in filling said vessels with a water solution of sulfur-dioxid gas, permitting the solution to remain therein lmtil the scale in the vessels has been softened, and subsequently removing the scale.

3. The herein described process of cleaning sugar making vessels, which consists in filling said vessels with a water solution of sulfur-dioxid gas, permitting the solution to stand in the vessels for a few hours, until the scale has softened, and subsequently removing the scale thus softened.

4. The herein described process of cleaning sugar making vessels, which consists in filling said vessels With a water solution of sulfur-dioxicl gas, permitting the solution to remain therein until the scale in the vessels has been softened, Withdrawing the solution from the vessels, and then removing the scale mechanically.

EDWARD HORROCKS MAN. 

